Plug valve



J. C. HAUN PLUG VALVE May s, 1951 Fild Jan. l0, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1. v4, 5 4 3 7 5 9 7 l., PW. 5 5 5 5 d. 2 01o AN, /3 w i. i A mm\\xvnwhn If w -we w e llll i May 8, 1951 J. c. HAUN 2,552,375

PLUG VALVE Filed Jan. 10, 1947 A2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l INVENTOR. Joy@ C. #awzececwed florencelz'zbiaMz'llsjxeczzdr Attorney Patented May 8, 1951 l PLUGVLVE Calif., Aby @Florence aBatriciaMills, gex'ecutrix,

1 Wallowayireg., ,assignoi'.I r toPIT-lorencey Patricia ..Mills,@Wa1l0wa, Oreg.

"- VApplication -zIfa-nuary 10, 1947; Serial No. 721,347

i .,fs3f..Claims. (Gl: 251-103) .fai-.This invention relates toplug'valves, andmore f-l L' lcylindricallopening-lfisftransverse 'to the `aligned 'if 'f-particularlyftofsuch valves.offatypeincorporat- .f-axes'oilthei pdiitsfliarid I5. 'A cylindrical valve ing a cylindricaliplug arid'wheren fthe sealing of y 'pliig Il'I-is m'oun'tedfor rotation within theicylinl thevalveisa'ccomplishedthrough the use of a iidrical opening I'IA andis igirovided'with` alateral f sealing mediumsuch as a' plasticmaterial confi`5- fthifoughfbo're -l1disposedrat a position for proiffitainingnely. divided'.m'etallicparticles 'viding communication between Vthe ports I4 and fItfvis oneof thepbjectsfof the `'pres'ent'inven- Vi151 in the: housing'whn the 'plugr is` turned to a f; tion .toprovidelatplugr valve'of the lcharacter den V`vpositionffof alignment'withthose housingl ports. 12"?'scribediwherein"a'systemofipassages andrgrooves il -'When-'tu'rned to'apositionftransverse to the houslisso;constructed and arranged thatl substantially 10 ing ports, the innen ends of theports are closed.

1 ---i qualf'packing-pressuresare provided in all parts At one" end andfcoaxiallyildisposed therewith, of the'. grooves. the?" cylindrical vvalve --lplu'g lil-- has integrally f Theainventionfjfurther: comprehends theprof formed-"thereonfacylindricalstein [S1-which fits ivisionrof-:f'a-'zplug vvalve-.wherein consistentchar- 1 @snugly in and'ezitends through albo're l2i]v` in the acter of the packing materialfismaintained .15Smidsportionfofthe-valve-'body ITI. v#By preference, throughout the various partsof the Valve. '5? ther-opening* Ill-1in the valve`body includes the sAsfanother object;l thisfinvention provides for bore 20 andi tvvo successively #largerr coaxial application,ofi-'packing vlpressure to the :packing fcou'nterboreslZZ and-123; the counterbbi'e 22 servmaterial fromfbothends of the grooves. 17 ing-ass. a1' seat for the-cylindricalvalveplug and further-objectsofthe.invention:is1toprovide".20 the counterbia23ebeiigrthreaded to receive a aplug.valvewhereinpacking material is supplied ff.- closure'v plug 2431i*Afterheingfseated in position, 'itofa system of-1passages andgroovesinsuch a the closure plug may be secured in 'such-position way. thatthe tendencyisto extrudecontaminatedlf byffretaining#means' `such -`as 4-a seti screw 2| v ier. dirtypackingu material out 14of tha grooves threaded into-an'fcpening-wnichislpartiallyfin the rather.V than allowingit to-.accumulatein any l#25'pl'ugl2llf and?V partially inthe bdvfIfI,-"fasshown in part of the valve. Fig. 3. Other. objects and. advantagesfof .the invention willfbe'iriorefullyexplained, the-stem I9 has will beiapparent from the following. description l andthe accompanying drawings inl which 4similar characters of reference indicate vsimilar parts thereinfarl axial/'bore 25-which1 eiitends into the Ladjacent" end' portionnf the valve' plug IT and, 1togetheriwithI-other?parts'of the valve, serves as Mthroughout the Several VBWS- `a'charriloeror'holding*a'supplynofv sealing com- `In the two'sheets vof drawings: 2"' pound Vi-itiliz'edtoV form an effectives'eal between Fie. 1 isla Side perspective View .vithparts cut '1T theY valveparts during- `their use=--The sealing '"-aWafY and'ShOWI-TSBCOH 't0 -rldcall'detals 0fv compounilreferredto'is yonefothoseknown and internal Stlu'ctue'of lfp'lllgw valve" embodying a VV35 Tus'ed 'forsuchlvalves and-may be, -for example, preferredformof thepresentn'vention; 'inlyfdividedllead-particles :carriedlbyffa plastic Fig. 2 is a plan View partiallyrin"sectioniof the medium, KVA'valve' shown'in Fig'l andswherin thesection is Consideredlin-fvgreater detail, the flange type 'taken' Substantially@ '2i line'if Fg- 3; connecting portionsI-2 and I13of -t-hevalve'housing Fig: 3` is a fragmentary ksectifmalsvievv 0f the "40f==have"seatingsurfaces -zf and lzladjacent the valve shown in Figs. 1 and 2-wherein th'section Outer-ends of the ports I4 and I5 and from which 'is'taken'substantially on a line-3-'-3o'f Fig-:12; and ufasteningflanges l 28v and 129 projectv radially. Figyli is a fragmentaryfsetioal view-with the' Tnerrasteningharige-shave;a plurality of spaced "SPCJOI'I taken 'Subastal'lly QOlf'af line #-14 0f` :openings "38' therein for thefaceoinmodation of v"Fig 3. :45: astening=eleinents, suchas'i-ibolts, for securing The 1 plug vvalve which isl--shown'in the 'faccomthr valve t0 .-djoining.. mngs, 'panyingldra'wings orillustrative `pu'rltlose's is in- ,with thewype @offvalvepstyucm-e. disclosed dicatedfgerierallyby the'referencanumeral l0- `herein, Athe-valve piugfll and thesurfaceof the ."Inlitsrbroaderrfaspects, thefvalvef-Ill ha'ssabody. roumerreagz .nee-d notfbefgrbund.topfovde a, l 4 DI'OVddilalOppOStfeiiS Witlflarl'geftype c011- 50 tight and 4relatively 'perfctltiin orderto prevent "lieCtin'gDOltOs l2! arid |13. -fOpDOSedl'DOltS I4 lleakageofthe valve', even when suchvalve is to and-I5serve as-linlet and outlet'f'o'penings for the ibe.'1used .forzontrolling thel o'w'oil'iluid? under valve andlflcommunicatewithia cylindrical inhighfpressure'. :lAs' almattervfofliactfthose'parts ternal opening which is designated generally by4 eedforilyhaveianfordinary machine:finish and a f-w tHe-reference numeral-1F62' and-ftheaxsf which reas'ona'bilyi accurate ntl@ The'- valve'structure and arrangement are such that a sealing compound of the type referred to furnishes the necessary seal between the parts to prevent the leakage of fluid therefrom when the valve is either open or closed.

In the structure disclosed, the bore 20 is separated from the counterbore 22 by a radial shoulder 32 and the counterbore 22 is separated from the counterbore 23 by a second radial shoulder 33. Also, the valve plug has a radial shoulder 34 at one end adjacent the stem l5. In the assembly of the valve the stem t9 is placed in the bore 20 and the shoulders 32 and 34 abut axially to locate the valve plug within the body. The closure plug 24 has a plane inner end surface 35, against which the end of the valve plug opposite the shoulder 34 seats in the assembly.

At the end adjacent the stem I9 and shoulder 34, the valve plug is radially out away for a portion of its length to provide an annular passage 36 defined in association with the counterbore 22 and shoulder 32 at the stem end of the valve plug. A plurality of radial passages 31 in the upper end of the valve plug provide communication between the axial bore 25 and the annular passage 35. In my preferred valve structure the passages 31 are oppositely disposed and spaced so that their outer ends are on opposite sides of the ports i4 and l5 in either the open or closed positions of the valve.

In its inner end surface, the closure plug 24 is provided with an annular channel 38 which underlies a portion of the shoulder 33 and an outer marginal portion of the end of the valve plug l1. Continuous communication, regardless of the position of the valve plug, is provided between the bore 25 and the annular channel 38 by a plurality of diagonally disposed passages 39 in the valve plug. The outer ends of the passages 39 are preferably spaced in substantial conformity to the spacing of the outer ends of the passages 31.

Along opposite sides of the counterbore 22 and disposed in spaced relationship to the inner ends of the inlet and outlet ports I4 and l5 are longitudinally extending grooves 4B, 42', 43 and 44. These grooves are desirably of substantially keyhole shape in section and open radially into the counterbore 22. Each of the grooves communicates at one end with the annular channel 38 and atits other end overlaps a marginal portion of the annular passage 36, as well as having additional communication with the annular passage 36 through a radial bore 45. The radial bores 45 are drilled from the outside of the valve body and have their outer ends closed by plugs 46 to facilitate the manufacture of the valve body.

From the foregoing description of the various passages, grooves and channel and their connections, it may be readily understood that sealing compound from the bore 25 is forced directly through the annular passage 36 and the channel 38 through the passages 31 and 39, respectively. Such sealing compound not only flows around the annular passage 36 and the end channel 38 to form end seals between the valve plug and body, but also iioWs into the grooves 4U, 42, 43 and 44 from opposite ends at the same time from the annular passage 36 and the channel 38, regardless of the position of the plug.

As depicted in Fig. 1, the disclosed plug has parts incorporated in the stem structure for manually forcing the sealing compound into the passages, grooves and channel from a supply chamber and when desired. For this purpose a tubular stem insert 41 is threaded into the bore 25 and extends to a position, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3, such that its end retains a valve seat Washer 48 against a shoulder 49 near the inner end of the bore. Below the valve seat washer 48 and within the bore 25 is a floating check valve element 50 having an end seating surface 52 adapted to seat against the washer 48 so as to permit the flow of sealing compound into the end portion of the bore 25 and the passages 31 and 39 While preventing the movement of the sealing compound in the reverse direction.

As depicted in Fig. 1, the tubular stem insert 41 extends beyond the end of the stem I9 and has an enlarged end portion 53 threaded on its exterior surface. A cap 54 is threaded onto the enlarged end portion 53 of the stem insert and carries a plunger 55 which ts snugly in and extends into an interior bore 56 in the tubular insert 41. Movement of the plunger into the bore 56 forces the sealing compound therefrom and into the connected passages and channel of the valve through the check valve.

In order to prevent binding of the plunger 55 Within the bore 56 as the cap 54 is turned, it is desirably held in position by a floating connection which allows some play during the turning movement of the cap and the axial movement of the plunger. rIhus, the plunger has a flanged end which is engaged between a shoulder 51 in the end portion of the cap and a washer 58 held in place within the end portion of the cap by a plug 59. By preference, the plug 59 has a central opening 6B therein which is closed by means such as a threaded plug 62.

In the operation of the disclosed valve, the valve plug is turned relative to the valve body by turning the stem I9. It is usually considered desirable to apply pressure to the sealing compound when the valve is in either its open or closed position so as to provide a complete seal within the valve around the ports I4 and i5. Such pressure may be relieved during the turning of the valve from one position to another, although such relief of the pressure is not necessary.

By introducing the sealing compound directly into the annular passage 36 and the annular channel 38 so that it ows therefrom into both ends of the longitudinal grooves which complete the framing of the ports, uniform and consistent character of the packing is maintained throughout the valve. The disclosed system of passages further requires less initial compressive force on the packing to obtain equal packing pressures in all grooves than is necessary when the grooves and passages are fed from one end only. By feeding the longitudinal grooves from both ends, the packing material which replaces that sheared off and lost during movement of the valve plug, moves inwardly toward the ports from both ends of the grooves and thus prevents the acctunulation of contaminated packing material within any of the grooves or passages, and particularly within the channel 38 at the end of the plug.

While a preferred embodiment of this invention has been illustrated, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is not intended that the invention is to be limited to the precise details of the construction set forth, but shall include all of the changes within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the present invention,

what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A plug valve comprising, in combination, a valve body having a cylindrical bore through the mid-portion thereof With two counterbored portions, the iirst of which counterbores provides a plug seat and has inlet and outlet ports cornmunicating with opposite sides thereof, said bore and counterbores being separated by radial shoulders, a cylindrical valve plug mounted for rotation in said first counterbore and having a stem projecting from said cylindrical bore, said valve plug having a shoulder engaging one of said radial shoulders and being grooved adjacent said radial shoulder to provide an annular passage for sealing compound, said valve plug also having a through bore disposed for alignment With the inlet and outlet ports when the plug is turned to a proper position, said stem having a chamber for sealing compound therein Which extends into the Valve plug, said valve plug having a plurality of oppositely disposed passages therein connecting said chamber to the annular passage, an end plug secured in the second of said counterbores to provide a Huid-tight closure for the body and a seat for the end of the valve plug, said end plug having an annular channel in its inner end surface partially underlying the edge of the end surface of the plug and opening into the rst counterbore, said valve plug having a plurality of passages therein providing communication for the flow of sealing compound from said chamber to said annular channel, said housing having grooves therein extending longitudinally of, and opening radially into said rst counterbore on opposite sides of said inlet and outlet ports, said grooves communicating at their ends with said annular passage and said annular channel, and means for applying pressure sealing compound in said chamber to force the compound into said grooves through the annular passage and the channel.

2. A plug valve comprising, in combination, a valve body having a cylindrical bore through the mid-portion thereof with two counterbored portions, the first of which counterbores provides a plug seat and has inlet and outlet ports communicating therewith, said bore and counterbores being separated by shoulders, a cylindrical Valve plug mounted for rotation in said first counterbore and having a stem projecting from said cylindrical bore, said valve plug having a shoulder engaging one of said shoulders in the body and being grooved adjacent said shoulder in the body to provide an annular passage for sealing compound, said valve plug also having a through bore disposed for alignment with the inlet and outlet ports when the plug is turned to a predetermined position, said stem having a chamber for sealing compound therein, said valve plug having a plurality of passages therein connecting said chamber to the annular passage, an end plug secured in the second of said counterbores to provide a fluid-tight closure for the body and a seat for the end of the valve plug, Said end plug having an annular channel in its inner end surface partially opening into the iirst counterbore, said valve plug having a plurality of passages therein providing communication for the flow of sealing compound from said chamber to said annular channel, said housing having grooves therein extending longitudinally of, and opening radially into said first counterbore on opposite sides of said inlet and outlet ports, said grooves communicating at their ends with said annular passage and said annular channel, and means for applying pressure to sealing compound in said chamber to force the compound into said grooves through the annular passage and the channel.

3. A plug valve comprising, in combination, a valve body having a cylindrical bore through the mid-portion thereof With a counterbored portion which provides a plug seat and has inlet and outlet ports communicating therewith, said bore and counterbore being separated by a radial shoulder, a cylindrical valve plug mounted for rotation in said counterbore and having a stem projecting from one end thereof, said valve plug having a shoulder engaging said radial shoulder and being grooved adjacent said radial shoulder to provide an annular passage for sealing compound,

said valve plug also having a through bore disposed for alignment with the inlet and outlet ports when the plug is turned to a predetermined position, said stem having a chamber for sealing compound therein which extends into the Valve plug, said valve plug having a plurality of oppositely disposed passages therein connecting said chamber to the annular passage, means providing a closure for the end of said cylindrical bore opposite said radial shoulder, the last mentioned means having an annular channel in its inner end surface partially underlying the edge of the end surface of the valve plug and opening into the counterbore, said valve plug having a plurality of passages therein providing communication for the flow of sealing compound from said chamber to said annular channel, said housing having grooves therein extending axially along the side Wall of said counterbore on opposite sides of said inlet and outlet ports, said grooves communieating at their ends with said annular passage and said annular channel, and means for applying pressure to sealing compound in said chamber to force the compound into said grooves through the annular passage and the channel. FLORENCE PATRICIA MILLS, Executria: of the Last Will and Testament of Jog/e C. Hmm, Deceased.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,058,747 Wilkins Oct. 27, 1936 2,058,748 Wilkins Oct. 27, 1936 2,250,124 Carter July 22, 1941 2,388,827 Carter Nov. 13, 1945 2,389,670 Kerr Nov. 27, 1945 

